complementary medicine

I’m delighted to announce a new certification program! I’ve been dreaming up this concept for years and have finally worked out the logistical kinks. Reiki Master Teacher, sometimes called Advanced Reiki or Reiki 3, is the pinnacle of training in this healing system. Often it’s taught in a weekend intensive, and it’s entirely possible to receive the certification without ever giving one single treatment.

I wanted to go a different route. A more scenic route. One steeped in devotion to practice. My passion is encouraging students to develop a daily routine for exploring a personal healing quest and uncovering their soul’s calling. Along with unconditional compassion and non-judgment, I believe this is the foundation of becoming a quality practitioner and teacher.

Perfection is not the goal. Consistent application of the healing tools at our disposal is. Reiki is the greatest, wisest teacher I’ve ever met! The experiences I’ve had treating myself and others have taught me infinitely more than any book or class could. It’s my intention to share this understanding and gently but firmly guide students to allow Reiki to reveal it secrets through observation.

Granted, this is no easy task! It requires patience and diligence and courage. Especially courage. Facing our wounds, fears, resistances, and limiting beliefs requires stamina, curiosity, and tons of courage. It is much, much easier to show up for a weekend workshop. In this program, you really have to work to earn the certification!

So I’ve developed a six month training that is largely independent study. Six of the seven classes will be held online for everyone’s convenience. We will meet in person only once for the attunement. There will be reading assignments and practice, practice, practice to keep us all busy for the weeks in between.

We’ll cover the traditional material including the master symbol for spiritual healing, opening a practice, and how to give initiation attunements and healing attunements, which are super-potent treatments. And we’ll discuss many of the more nuanced aspects of giving the best sessions possible. In my teaching I share the tricks that I’ve figured out over the past 16 years giving thousands of treatments. I learned the hard way, but you don’t have to!

If you’re interested in diving deep and immersing yourself fully in the Reiki pool, let’s connect and see if this is a good fit for you. You can join from anywhere, with the exception of the second class, when we’ll gather in my office in Philadelphia. The cost is $777, with an early bird discount of $77 off, available through 3/1/2020. Classes are on the fourth Thursday of each month, 6-8:30 pm eastern time, beginning in March. Details can be found here.

Reiki Master Teacher Training and Personal Healing Quest

I’m delighted to announce a new certification program! I’ve been dreaming up this concept for years…
One of the most amazing benefits of Reiki is that it is not limited by time or space. Healing energy can be sent to a client who is not geographically present. With the use of sacred symbols learned in a level 2 Reiki course and the power of intention, spiritually guided life-force energy can be transferred remotely. To anywhere!

Over the years of offering healing sessions to those who live in different parts of the world, I’ve come to have a deep respect for this amazing technique. While there is indeed something special about the comfort of human touch, I often find that long-distance healing can be more powerful. Somehow without a body beneath my hands, I’m better able to tune into the energetic matrix that is the blueprint of our physical reality.

It’s quite common for me to see images of blockages while sending Reiki remotely. It’s become second nature to be guided by these images to a root problem that is causing symptoms of discomfort or imbalance. Pain might be represented as steam pressurizing in an organ, a hornets’ nest, or a clogged drainpipe. While these messages obviously aren’t literal, they offer me clues about where to apply Reiki for an optimal outcome.

For several months now I’ve been sending Reiki to my 5 year-old nephew who has difficulty focusing at school. Well, duh! He’s 5! But I’m concerned that he will be burdened with a diagnostic label that might come with a prescription, so I’ve been intervening in the only way I know how. During one of his remote sessions, am image came to me of a parade of ants crawling down his leg. Ants in his pants! Totally a metaphor for what was happening, as well as an indicator that I was on target and needed to stay there until the last ant was evacuated.

Reiki has a great sense of humor!

I’ve come to recognize a pattern when doing this type of work; as one blockage is cleared, often the next layer is revealed and new symptoms arise. I’ve started offering long-distance sessions in packages to accommodate this phenomenon. Deeper healing generally requires a series of treatments to restore balance and harmony, but even one treatment can produce tremendous results. (If you’re wondering how many sessions it will take to heal an issue, that’s rather like asking me how long it will take to become free of debt. It depends. Here’s a recent post I wrote about exactly this.)

For example, working on a friend’s broken finger brought up an underlying sense of anxiety that causes her to rush around without being mindful- perhaps the very cause of the injury. Treating both the finger and the anxiety offers a much greater opportunity for deeper healing and a future with fewer accidents. I suspect the anxiety has an even deeper cause that will likely be unveiled in upcoming treatments.

Each time an intention is set for healing, whatever it is that is preventing that healing becomes the focus point of an inner spotlight. It takes courage to allow this spotlight to reveal the hidden blockages and outdated beliefs that are lurking in the shadows. It’s much easier to blame others for our circumstances, to distract ourselves or numb the pain. The very nature of our modern culture encourages to keep so very busy we never need notice our inner turmoil, and if we do, we are encouraged to drown it out with alcohol, baked goods, online shopping, endless social media scrolling, or casual sex.

Been there, done that!

If these superficial strategies are no longer working for you either, I would be honored to facilitate your healing process with Reiki. I’m extending the 10% off package discount through the end of January 2020. Normally $500, five one-hour long-distance Reiki treatments are now only $450. I offer 15 minute complimentary consultations if you’re on the fence, as well as gift-certificates for your loved ones.

This can be a challenging time of year for so many reasons. You don’t have to go it alone. Another alternative is to take a class and learn to use Reiki yourself. This is the most affordable option if you’re the type of person who will actually use it on a regular basis. There’s nothing quite like having the power of healing energy at your very finger tips! I have a level 1 certification coming up in January if you’re in the Philadelphia area. If you’re not, there’s likely a teacher near you. Or you could just stay at home and schedule a long-distance treatment.

Long Distance Reiki Healing

One of the most amazing benefits of Reiki is that it is not limited by time…
One of the most common questions I hear from Reiki students and clients is, “How do I heal…”. My eczema, my finances, my relationship with my mother, the trauma lingering from childhood abuse, shoddy self-esteem, karma from previous lifetimes, addictions, phobias… You name it, my answer is always the same.

Set an intention and add Reiki. Combining the power of the mind (via intention and attention) with the healing of spiritually guided life-force energy is the formula for soothing whatever ails us. I used to want to make it more complicated, to have specific recipes for each and every circumstance, but that’s just not necessary. I’m learning to appreciate the ease of this one-size-fits-all approach!

In my self-care practice, I treat a sprained ankle the same way I do disappointment or getting out of debt. I invite Reiki to flow for whatever purpose I have in mind. Then I pay attention.

I pay attention to insights and intuitive nudges that arise from within me as well as synchronicities that point me toward guided action. When blockages and resistance arise, I use Reiki to uncover what’s underneath, and then I use Reiki to treat that.

I keep repeating this process as I work through the layers that keep me separate from the experiences I desire. I also use Reiki to help myself accept that wherever I am is exactly where I’m supposed to be, and to release the limiting beliefs that I don’t deserve to have all the goodness that I long for.

I use Reiki to help me let go of the habits that prevent me from receiving my heart’s desires and to notice the clues the universe gives me about how to move toward my goals. When I encounter obstacles, I Reiki them; and when I feel stuck, I Reiki that. Usually what’s underneath it all is a false message I’ve adopted as a result of cultural conditioning or an outdated coping mechanism. Once discovered, I Reiki that too.

I know this time of year can be difficult for many of us. It certainly is for me. I take extra measures to protect my mental and emotional health. To help you do the same, I’m offering a discount on a series of 5 long-distance Reiki session, only $360. Normally $80 each, you save $40 when purchasing a package by 1/31/20. Gift certificates are available as well.

You don’t need to know how to heal this anxiety, depression, auto-immune condition, neurological disorder, PTSD, or anything else. Reiki knows how. All you need to do is receive treatment and take inspired action. Contact me with any questions or to arrange purchase of a package and schedule your first session.

You Don’t Need to Know How and Reiki Package Special

One of the most common questions I hear from Reiki students and clients is, “How do…
I get this question a lot. People want definitive answers before committing to a session. My short answer is, yes. Every session helps. Each step we make towards improving our health and wellness counts. 98% of my clients leave each and every session feeling better than when they arrived.

And… it’s really not quite that simple. I liken healing to getting out of debt. Will one payment help reduce your credit card balance? Sure. Will it eliminate the deficit that has been accruing for decades? Maybe, but probably not.

It’s the same with massage and Reiki treatments. The results depend on so many factors that it’s impossible for me to predict with absolute accuracy how long it will take for any particular issue to be resolved. The intensity and duration of any discomfort is an important consideration as well as lifestyle choices. Activities, thoughts, and behaviors that add to or detract from the underlying imbalance most definitely play a roll. Willingness to let go and embrace change will certainly enhance the efficacy of every treatment, as will efforts to cultivate and preserve the body’s physiological relaxation response.

Consider the goal of being debt free. The degree of debt, income, spending habits, savings and gifts must all be calculated. It’s much the same in healing. Are you making more deposits into your health and wellness account than withdrawals? Are you reducing your harmful spending habits? Are you willing to take on extra work to boost your healing income?

These are all investments beyond the scope of any one treatment. So while yes, one session will help, it’s ultimately your participation in the process that will speed your arrival at the finish line. I’ve seen clients experience tremendous progress through making healthier choices on a daily basis as well as clients who remain stuck on a plateau if receiving bi-monthly treatments is their only contribution.

There’s no right or wrong here. I’m happy to help clients maintain their health when seeing me is the only effort they are able or willing to make, and I enjoy supporting those who wish to take more active roles and rely less on my efforts. There’s a place for everyone in my practice. But if you want to get better faster, you’ll need to get involved and start making frequent deposits into your health account.

Will One Session Help?

I get this question a lot. People want definitive answers before committing to a session. My…
This is a topic that has been recurring in classes and sessions, as well as in my own life, again and again. I’d really rather ignore the nudges to write about it, but they’ve grown increasingly insistent. I’ve learned the hard way to honor my Inner Nudge, so here we go!

It’s not uncommon to commit to a goal, make a plan to achieve that goal, actively implement that plan, and within a short period of time abandon the whole thing. I’m pretty sure we’ve all experienced this at one time or another. We might meet resistance along the way, perhaps apathy or overwhelm, or even downright self-sabotage. Often we’ll beat ourselves up for failing and begin again, this time with harsher guidelines, only to hit that same brick wall, this time with greater velocity.

Here’s the thing. If any part of me believes that it’s not safe to achieve my goals, my subconscious is going to do everything in its power to prevent me from succeeding. If I believe it isn’t safe to be creative or successful or thin, my willpower is no match for my Inner Protector. As many times as I try, as many strategies as I develop, I will never best my subconscious!

This is the point were it’s easy to give up and settle for less. But I’m here to tell you that there’s another way! The amazing healing power of Reiki can be used to uncover any false beliefs that may be holding us back from our true magnificence and shift them to support our desires.

It might sound complicated and exhausting, but really this process is quite simple. Reiki is activated by intention, so all we need do is to invite it into the process. For example, “My intention is to uncover and release any blockages that prevent me from losing weight.” Whether you’re a practitioner yourself or seeking professional treatment, from here on out the work is simply showing up and paying attention.

When the treatment reveals a memory or a belief that is standing in my way, I must acknowledge it and accept it as my starting point. I always need to start from where I am. Plugging my ears and hiding my head in the sand has never gotten me anywhere! If I’m ignoring, numbing, or suppressing the gremlins that I’d prefer weren’t there, I’m giving away my power and allowing them to call the shots from the shadows.

My suggestion for those working on releasing self-sabotage is quite simple. State your intention clearly. Turn Reiki on and allow it to flow. If you feel a place in your body where a belief or blockage resides, place your hands there. If there’s no apparent location, imagine a Reiki spotlight above your head radiating down through your crown and illuminating your head, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, torso, pelvis, legs, and feet. Feel the glow within yourself. Notice any parts that might be resisting this glow, and gently focus the spotlight there.

Notice any “yeah, but…” statements that come up. “Yeah, I want to lose 20 pounds, but…”. These are super-important clues! Pay attention. Acknowledge these thoughts. Shine the spotlight on them. Follow the thought train, and it will lead you eventually to a submerged belief that for reason xyz, it isn’t safe to lose those 20 pounds.

Reiki that belief every day until it is healed. If it isn’t True (meaning not in alignment with the perfection of your Spirit), it will eventual fade. Sometimes it helps to write it on an index card, or to find or draw a visual representation of this belief and to Reiki that. This is the process of healing the source of the resistance/blockage/self-sabotage so that you may begin the process of actually moving forward to creating your goals rather that continuing to bang your head against the wall.

While this practice is simple, it may take time. The beliefs may have very deep roots. It requires patience and persistence to reprogram our thoughts. Just as a long journey begins with a single step followed by putting one foot in front of the other repeatedly, we only need to keep showing up and chipping away at our obstacles. If there’s a history of trauma or abuse, professional support will likely be required.

No matter how long you’ve been struggling with self-sabotage, there is indeed hope for breaking the cycle. Using the tools of kindness, awareness, and acceptance boosted with the power of Reiki healing energy, the path can be cleared and the journey to reaching your goals begun. As always, you’re welcome to reach out to me to schedule a session if you’d like some support.

Reiki for Healing Self-Sabotage

This is a topic that has been recurring in classes and sessions, as well as in…
You’re probably surprised that I’m not writing an article about Reiki for weight loss! It’s going on my list of future blogs as it really is a tremendous tool for changing the habit of emotional or stress eating. I’m reasonably certain that I would be morbidly obese if not for Reiki; but that’s a story for another day.

There is a time sensitive offer I want to share.

Rarely does a week go by that a client doesn’t announce an intention to lose weight. Most methods involve deprivation and self-punishment in the form of restricting food and inflicting painful exercise. For those interested in a kinder, more sustainable path, I’ve discovered The Gabriel Method.

Much the same way that Reiki works to lower cortisol through stimulating the relaxation response, Jon Gabriel has designed a series of short 10 minute meditations. He’s offering a free 21 day challenge, which will be available for a few more days. Better yet, it’s only $39 to purchase the entire series so you can download and listen at your leisure.

I was hesitant to share this offer without experiencing it myself; hence the delay. But I’ve been listening to the meditations every day for the past 16 days and can firmly stand behind this approach. I don’t receive any financial incentive for sharing this link. I’m doing it because I believe it will be extremely helpful for many who have struggled with losing weight in a healthy manner, such as I have for ages.

You can check it out for free and see if it resonates. I could go on and on about the physiological benefits, but I’m eager to get the word out and it’s time for me to step away from my computer. I’d love to hear what you think if you give it a try!

Meditation for Weight Loss

You’re probably surprised that I’m not writing an article about Reiki for weight loss! It’s going…
For the past several months, I’ve been receiving a long-distance Reiki treatment every Sunday night. The practitioner intends for the healing energy to arrive when I’m asleep. This is a trick I learned from my teacher: when the conscious mind is not active, barriers are relaxed, and receptivity increases. The result is that I wake up each Monday feeling relaxed, at peace, and rather blissful.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

My regard for distance treatments continues to grow over time. Now that I’m experiencing consistent sessions myself and observing the amazing results, I’ve become a wholehearted cheerleader for the process! The bliss is actually a lovely side effect, and the work we are doing in these treatments is very profound and transformational.

Through personal growth and spiritual awakening I’ve become aware of some very harmful and persistent limiting beliefs that prevent me from experiencing the life I desire. These beliefs are deeply rooted in my subconscious, where they were planted in early childhood. The story of how they got there is not important to the healing process, but recognizing the damage they’ve created is. Awareness is the first step in the healing process.

Reprogramming thought patterns that have enjoyed free reign for decades is not an easy task. I’d been making slow but steady progress on my own and finally had the good sense to seek out some support. It became obviously pretty quickly that it would take some consistent intervention to break the cycle of these well-worn neural pathways.

Through my intention to release all blockages to receiving the love, peace, joy, harmony, and abundance I crave and the weekly Reiki, I am beginning to notice monumental changes in my daily life. For starters, my mood remains consistently positive most of the time. I don’t get as upset or stay upset as long as I used to when things don’t go my way. I’m more resilient, more flexible, more patient, more kind. I seem to attract loving and appreciative people into my life.

I find it easier to maintain my personal boundaries and say “no” when I don’t want to do something. I trust that I’m exactly where I supposed to be, doing exactly what I should for the greatest good. I seem to attract business and opportunities that are aligned with my purpose and goals. I find it easier to devote myself to the spiritual and self-care practices that bring me peace and joy. Quite simply, I’m reclaiming wholeness and worthiness, and as I do so, the Universe responds accordingly.

Healing old wounds takes time and steady application. All the feelings that were ignored, suppressed, or numbed eventually rise to the surface and need to be felt and released. It’s easy to get trapped in the story of trauma or victimhood or feel overwhelmed and the compulsion to run away. Being willing to face one’s shadow side takes courage and perseverance. Yet the reward of freedom from coping mechanisms and avoidance techniques is a wonderful motivator. Just like me, you don’t have to go it alone.

Contact me if you’d like to schedule a session or for more information. I’m here to help.

Monday Morning Bliss

For the past several months, I’ve been receiving a long-distance Reiki treatment every Sunday night. The…
Karen: Can Reiki get mad at you? Like if you don’t make the underlying change that keeps coming to the surface, will it stop helping you until you make the change? For example – I keep using Reiki to help heal the blisters I get from wearing a particular pair of shoes. I love these shoes even though they destroy my feet and keep wearing them because the Reiki helps to keep the pain at bay. It’s like that friend who refuses to break up with her jerky boyfriend and keeps wanting to talk about what an jerk he is. Would the Reiki ever just get fed up and be like “STOP WEARING THE SHOES OR I’LL STOP WORKING!” ?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Pamela: What an intriguing question! I appreciate the specificity of your example as it really helps illustrate the point I’d like to make. Reiki is completely non-judgemental. It is simply an energetic gift from the Universe (insert your word here for that which is greater than we mere humans). I find it to be much more generous than I am! While I have a tipping point for listening to a friend complain endlessly about a jerky boyfriend, Reiki will continue to show up and offer support.

I’ve never heard of Reiki not working for a willing recipient. I have some issues that I personally have been working on for ages that come around in cycles. Reiki continues to show up and provide healing for me even when I’m stuck in a rut and repeating harmful behavior. It never demands fealty or obedience. It doesn’t threaten to abandon me should I not comply with its demands.

What I suspect will happen as you and I both continue to fill ourselves with this healing energy is that one day we will value ourselves so much that we’ll simply no longer wish to harm ourselves or our precious feet. The change will come from the inside rather than being imposed from the outside.

Rather than struggling to fix ourselves, we’ll simply remember that we’re perfect, whole, and complete. And then those shoes, and those distractions or chocolate chip cookies, will no longer appeal. In the meantime, Reiki for blisters is a perfectly valid approach.

Can Reiki Get Mad at You?

Karen: Can Reiki get mad at you? Like if you don’t make the underlying change that…
I’m not exactly anxious about my appointment with the dentist today, but I know that once I’m in that chair, my primitive brain will take over. It senses danger in this semi-reclined, seemingly restrained, and rather helpless position. The very act of dentistry is invasive by nature- foreign tools and hands in the mouth, and is even potentially traumatic if the fight-flight-or-freeze response gets stimulated. I aim to avoid that.

So I’m spending extra time this morning getting grounded, filling up with nature ki, and strengthening my presence and peace of mind. While I’m not expecting any discomfort physically, I know myself well enough to realize there will be some emotional discomfort and I have no desire to allow it to blossom or fester.

The urge I felt upon waking this morning was to distract myself from the unease I felt rising up within me. While it’s too early for whiskey, Netflix is always available as a means to avoid emotions. Very tempting! But deep down I know that ignoring my feelings doesn’t actually heal them or even eradicate them, so I’m going with a more holistic approach.

Prayer, meditation, journaling, and nature are the remedies that truly feed my soul and help me find balance within myself, increasing my natural resilience. I find I need all the resilience I can muster when dealing with medical professionals who always seem so eager to expose me to toxic chemicals, radiation, and well… trauma.

So in preparation, I’ve been to the creek to fill up on life-force energy and have arranged for a friend and fellow practitioner to send me Reiki for support. I had the good sense to schedule a gentle yoga class followed by a sound healing session for tonight. I’m feeling confident that I’ve done all I can to minimize the potential damage and pave the way for a positive outcome.

It might seem like a lot of effort for a checkup! I’ve come to recognize the importance of prevention vs. cleaning up the mess afterwards as well as the logic of using tools and techniques that actually help me feel better rather than temporarily escaping. Oh my goodness, I think I’m really adulting!

Dentist Prep

I’m not exactly anxious about my appointment with the dentist today, but I know that once…